Thompson injury happened on tackle

Green Bay - A visibly shaken Kregg Lumpkin said linebacker Jeremy Thompson was injured when he attempted to tackle the running back.

Several players said Thompson had movement in both his arms and legs after laying on the turf for several minutes.

Coach Mike McCarthy described Thompson's injury as a "neck stinger."

"It was during a scout team rep and went to get the ball, saw an open lane, I cut back, and that's when I saw Jeremy in the hole," Lumpkin said. "I didn't lower my head or anything but it was kind of like his head hit my (left) shoulder pad.

"When it happened, he just said, 'Oh no,' and just fell on the ground. After that, I was just standing there like, 'What really just happened.' All I could do was sit there and hope that he get back up.

"At the time he was moving his feet. After that they told us to move back."

Lumpkin said he and Thompson are close, which made it even harder. Lumpkin was emotional as he spoke throughout.

"We're close and we talk about a lot of stuff," Lumpkin said. "It's tough to say I'm all right but really, somebody that I talk to almost on a regular basis...

"It's very scary because he's been fighting stingers for a couple months. (long pause) It's hard to describe, somebody that you talk to on a regular basis and you see him go down like that. It's hard to explain, hard to talk about."

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said the team is hoping for the best as Thompson goes through tests at a hospital.

"I didn't see the ambulance, but there definitely was concern," Rodgers said. "I saw him moving his legs so I know that's a good sign. He's had some neck stuff before. I know they're just being careful. I was definitely worried about him.

"He just kind of stayed down. It was the last play of a period so we were kind of moving ends (of the field). He didn't get up for a little bit so guys kind of crowded around and were looking at him and then we gave him some space.

"Everybody's worried about him. He's one of my favorite guys. His brother (former lineman Orrin Thompson) was one of my best buddies on the team when he was here. Jeremy's a good guy so hopefully he'll be all right. We'll be praying for him."

About Greg A. Bedard

Greg is in his second year with the Journal Sentinel after 10 years with The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post.
With the Post, Greg spent his final four years covering the Miami Dolphins. Prior to that, Greg was a general assignment reporter, covering everything from PGA Tour events, major college football, the world championships won by the Florida Marlins and Miami Heat, to the 2003 Little League World Series national championship won by East Boynton Beach.
Greg, a 1997 graduate of Rutgers University, hails from Massachusetts, where he graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
He currently resides in Lawrence with his wife, Rita, and twin children, Jason and Priya.